Cross Over the Lines :: WARNING - You may feel a little less judgmental!

Lately, God has just shaken me... shaken me to understand just why people won't come to God.  I know that I have so many failures and at times have been hypocritical.  I know that right now I have things I'm working at because I'm human and not perfect.  I don't expect people to think Christians are perfect... nor do I want them to expect us to be.  That's a heavy burden to carry.  I want people to accept that we all are vulnerable to sin and mistakes no matter how hard we try to be as much like Christ as possible.  I am human and I am going to let someone down at some point in probably every week of my life.  In ministry I try to encourage those who come to me let down by others to follow what Hebrews 3:1 says, "Fix your thoughts on Jesus."  He is the only one who can show a sinless and perfect way to live your life and the one who can NOT let you down.

Lately I have thought, how much do Christians as a whole have to do with the fact that we are sometimes expected to be "perfect" by others?  I've heard it said, "You teach people how to treat you." Have we taught them to treat us as "high and mighty", better than the world we are charged to share Jesus with?  Have we given any thought to how our "lines" have separated us from the very ones Jesus himself was around and teaching during His life?  Have we gotten so "holy" that we can't reach out to a hurting person even if they don't look or act like us?

I have heard of church services lately, where homosexuals were attacked instead of loved from behind the pulpit.  I won't stand around with my head in the sand pretending that "Christians" are doing their best to help others and everything is fine.  The reality is that there is a lot of work that needs to be done among Christians and the entire human race, for that matter, concerning our lack of love one for another.

Just when I was feeling the most pain for how this group I was associated with (Christians) was treating people, I saw this post on a friend's Facebook that shared a link titled, "21 Pictures that will Restore Your Faith in Humanity."  I was drawn to it, first, because I obviously love images.  But upon scrolling through the link, I was drawn to the challenge it presented me.  This is the first image I saw:

     (Michelle Gantner / Maladjusted Media)


A group of Christians from Chicago went to a gay pride parade just to say that they were sorry.  Here's where I'm going to lose some of you and that's alright.  Why was this so TOUCHING?  Because it was a group of Christians being REAL with people... admitting that they aren't perfect.

We aren't going to get anywhere in our quest to have people come to God if we are judgmental and show hate to people.  I can disagree with someone, but I just can't belittle the value of their soul and the person behind the action.  I just can not do it.  If Jesus could come here for me and all that I have done, then how can I tell someone because they did "________" (fill in the blank), that I don't believe He can save them?  But isn't that what our actions sometimes tell people?   I believe that Jesus's birth, death, and resurrection are strong enough to help anyone and I believe that it was given for anyone who wants to receive Him... not just those we feel like to talking to... not just those who don't have "major" sins... not just to those who dress like me.  If I avoid those people, talk bad about them, or openly say that they are horrible people - then how do I expect them to see Jesus in me?  Am I showing them love or am I drawing a line that turns into a stumbling block for them?

Here's what touched me more....

(Michelle Gantner / Maladjusted Media)

This is the reaction to the signs and shirts by a parade participant.  I literally cried.  He embraced them AND their apology.  I promise you that this act of love by these Chicago based Christians will go miles farther in helping this young man through life than the hate and condemnation that people want to throw his way.  These Christians weren't saying, "I support your action."  They were saying, "We are sorry for being judgmental and not reaching out to you. I am going to love you as a person & soul God made."  


Matt and I are close to many people who live homosexual lives.  They are some amazing people just like some of the people who fill the church pews on Sunday mornings.  I believe they each know that we don't support a homosexual lifestyle, but I also believe that they each know how much we love them.  We can't show hatred to them.  We can't because if we did, we would be forfeiting any progress anyone has made in their lives toward showing the love of Jesus.  I can't walk around with that on my hands.


It doesn't start or stop with homosexuals.  I have seen too many lines draw between Christians and the homeless, the drug addict, etc.  It is painful to see.  We are teaching people that Christians think they are too good to reach OUT (notice I didn't say down) to help or love everyone in the human race... just like Jesus did and does.

Here's a great story:
We have a friend who was a meth addict and involved in an abusive relationship.  I tried all throughout our lives to live a good life in front of her and to love her no matter what (as did my parents).  I tried to be transparent with her so that she could see I wasn't perfect but I was trying.  After finding out she was pregnant 5 years ago, she walked away from meth and the relationship.  She has raised her child away from that situation.  Then recently, she called me after church one Sunday morning and told me that she gave her life to God.  She went on to thank me & my family for always showing her that God loved her.  It wasn't anything special we did... it was just us letting God shine through to her no matter how poor she looked... no matter how drugged or beat up she looked.  We tried to keep the lines down and God was able to use that in her life.  She said that she didn't have to doubt that God could take care of her because we had shown her that.

Wouldn't you much rather hear this from someone than to hear that they are just too judgmental down at ______ church?  I just want to encourage everyone (Christian or not) to love people.  To show that love no matter how someone looks or acts.  It doesn't mean that we participate in what they are doing, it just means that we show Jesus to them.

I love lyrics & poetry so much so I use it often to help enforce to myself what God is teaching me.  Maybe it will help you remember this lesson as well.  Read these lyrics by Casting Crowns:

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

These are sobering lyrics aren't they?

"Let our hearts be led by mercy."  Mercy means to be kind and forgiving.  Are you being that way in your life toward others?  This is a challenge I am facing in my life... I want you to challenge yourself to the same thing.  Are you showing love, mercy... JESUS to this hurting world?  Christians, are you even showing it to others who sit in the same pew as you each week?  Can you cross over the lines to help someone see Jesus?  Can you challenge yourself to be a stepping stone and not a stumbling block in someone's path to a better life, better walk, or even to the Savior?  Let us not be the ones keeping people from coming to God.